Need some help. I’m looking to build or buy a bait tank for the jon boat. I’d like to have it be two sided where the bait is on one side getting aerated and the beer and lunch is on the other side on ice. I thought this would be a quick Google search, but apparently not. The key is having both sides insulated from each other. Finding a cooler divider is easy, but I need to keep the icy cold water from mixing with the bait.

Any ideas or should this just be two coolers? Trying to save some room.

Glue a piece of foam board to one side of the divider?

Hmmmm..... maybe that’d work?

I short commented that. I meant to glue it to the divider in an already divided cooler.

I was thinking a piece of 1/8" thick plexiglass. If your cooler doesn't have a divider, you can get some aluminum U channel, plexiglass, and silicone caulk at a hardware store to make your own divider.

Go to Tinboats.net. You might find something in the forum sections. Very good forum on Jon boat rebuilds and modifications.

I remember when I thought I couldn’t fish without drinking beer. I solved that problem, I quit fishing.

I made a cooler for the very front of my boat when I converted to a 24 volt TM and moved the 2 batteries to the space under the bow. The boat came with a cooler in that area, but the batteries took up about 2/3 of the space. I was able to make a cooler that is big enough to carry all the drinks needed for a day, and it will hold the few fish that die in the livewell.

I just made it out of plywood and cut pieces of insulation board that is used on a house, then glued it to the plywood. On the seams, I put a bead of silicon and smoothed it in. Put a piece of PVC in the bottom for a drain. It works fine and will still have ice in it the next day. I think something like that would work for you.

I'm thinking the u channel ideal with two sheets of thin plexiglass and thin foam board in between it, like a sandwich. Make that sandwich to fit in the u channel and silicone it all very tightly.